If you leave the tube in place, you will never get the steering shaft stabbed back into the steering bearing at the top of the tube. I understand your fresh paint ordeal and now think your best option is to wrap it in tape before removal and take it out with the rest of the steering box/column assembly. You can put the painted tube on the new gear box before you install it, but I think the gasket thickness stands a good chance of affecting the steering shaft end play adjustment.
What if you take the steering tube off (wrapped in tape as mentioned) and send it to the steering box rebuilder and have them install it on the new gear box and adjust it for you?
Last edited by Greg_H; 08/08/2011 12:41 AM. Reason: added final question
